In this interview, Teller and I discuss a wide range of topics, including how he transitioned from a high school Latin teacher into a career in magic, who got him interested in skepticism (Penn), who got Penn interested in performing magic (Teller), plus where the idea for their hit show, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, originated (a misunderstanding).
Teller also gives me his opinion of the July 8 New York Times article, “The End of the Magic World’s 50-Year Grudge,” which attempted to rehabilitate the reputation of Uri Geller.
Of course, we also talk about their long running Vegas show (which I was able to attend during CSICon 2017) and discuss several aspects of the long-running (2003 to 2010) skeptically themed TV series Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, including why it would be extremely difficult to produce such a series (designed to expose truth) in today’s world where “truth becomes a complete anomaly in the current culture,” and “95% of the stuff coming at us is bullshit.”
If you want to meet the reserved Teller (or the not-so-reserved Penn) or any of the other great CSICon speakers in person, plan on attending the conference this year; time is fast running out to book your trip: skepticalinquirer.org/csicon/